When Kiwi entrepreneur Sam Brown realised we didn’t have a national drink, he set about making one – and so The White Sheep Co came to life.
How did you come up with such an interesting product? I was living overseas at the time and out having a few drinks with friends. We were all from different countries and decided to have a drink for each of our nationalities. We had some tequila for Mexico, brandy for France, whisky for Scotland and bourbon for USA. When it got to me, I drew a blank – there wasn’t a spirit that was truly unique to New Zealand. It was this night that put the spark in my mind to create something truly different that could represent New Zealand on the global stage. It took around three years of research and development while working full-time but The White Sheep Co finally launched at the beginning of 2019.
Did you have a background in spirits or was it completely new to you? I always had an interest in home brewing but outside of a few attempts when I was younger – with varying degrees of success – I had no formal experience. It has been a great learning process and the science behind things is very interesting.
How do people react when you tell them you produce spirits with sheep milk? People are quite surprised when they find out and want to know more about our spirits, how they’re made and of course what they taste like.
What hurdles did you face trying to bring the product to life? Turning sheep milk into alcohol is quite unique and it took a long time to perfect the science behind it. It is a bit more involved than a conventional spirit made from grain or wheat, and a lot of work goes into each batch.
Has interest in the product exceeded your expectations? The public response since we launched has been really great and we want to continue building on that both domestically and abroad. We are now stocked at a number of liquor stores and bars/restaurants throughout the country and if you are after a unique gift for friends/family abroad you can find us at Auckland Airport duty-free on your way out.
People could be quite apprehensive about trying The White Sheep Co products – what’s the reaction after they give it a go? Are they pleasantly surprised? Sheep milk is a new thing to most people so there is a natural curiosity about what we’ve created. Our spirits have been really well received by both critics and the general public alike, which is great, and we’ve even picked up a few awards already.
What are your favourite ways to drink the gin and vodka? I would definitely recommend people try our spirits sipped neat. You wouldn’t usually drink a gin neat but ours is quite different – the subtle honey and notes of sheep milk make it perfect for sipping, just as you would with a fine whisky. Our vodka is very smooth and carries a noticeable sheep milk aroma and flavour notes – it’s definitely quite different to other vodkas out there.
Do you have any plans to expand into other spirits? I do have some other ideas in mind but will have to keep these under wraps for now!
If it’s your last meal on earth, what will you be found eating? Perhaps some tasty New Zealand roast lamb – washed down with some White Sheep Co vodka of course!
On a Sunday you’ll find me… Somewhere with a nice view.